How will this work for the frequent BA traveller? If the traveller was BA Premier or Gold and turned up with luggage to check-in - and perhaps the corporate travel agent unwittingly booked this no-checked-baggage ultra-low fare, unknown to the traveller - what happens?

My thought is that there is no distinction between "offering a discount" for travellers with no baggage and "charging more" for travellers with. The only real difference over the present US approach is that the fee is not a fee per piece, but rather a flat fee included in the fare.

And it begs the question: are the savings really passed on to passengers or an additional source of revenue to help the bottom line? Call me suspicious, I assume the latter.

I personally dislike this trend, and would like to see some airlines keeping proper service (within reason of course).

2) What if a person changes her/his mind? What's the process to add a checked bag?

3) The articles notes "BA added that passengers choosing the “hand baggage only” fare would be able to carry on cases measuring up to 56cm x 45cm x 25cm as well as a laptop bag and a handbag. " So is that up to 3 carry on items?

2) What if a person changes her/his mind? What's the process to add a checked bag?

3) The articles notes "BA added that passengers choosing the “hand baggage only” fare would be able to carry on cases measuring up to 56cm x 45cm x 25cm as well as a laptop bag and a handbag. " So is that up to 3 carry on items?

1) Normal rules would apply, you would be required to pay the airport check in fee. In my experience, BA tend not to bother measuring any bags up, so don't know how well it'd work.

2) As with my answer 1, you would be required to pay the at airport fee.

3) The article is incorrect if it says that, the allowance is one 10KG bag and 1 laptop OR handbag=2 pieces of hand luggage.

I think it will be the same price...if the baggage handler is still loading bags what difference is another 100? they're not going to knock money off their wages for loading less bags they still need paying

I have been on a few different airlines over the past 12 months, and I increasingly hear the words, "Please place your larger bag in the overhead locker, and place all other bags under the seat in front of you." followed by something like "This will allow all passengers to use the overhead lockers safely"

I am impressed by the BA website in that it is clear for the passenger to see the rules and pricing rather than going to another page that might then ask you to select the luggage been taken and add to the pricing. Operating as crew I find if you ask passengers to place their larger bags in the overhead bins they will do.

Quoting fiscal (Reply 13):"Please place your larger bag in the overhead locker, and place all other bags under the seat in front of you

This makes sense and ensures that large bags are been squashed under seats and taking up floor space that might be required in an emergency.

Quoting seansasLCY (Thread starter):I think this is much better than the KLM approach as we can actually see cheaper fares are being offered.

Definitely. From the passenger point of view, the perception is completely different to that of a pure LCC-style fee. You are given the new option to save money by not checking a bag.

Quoting goldorak (Reply 1):It seems they copy the new AF mini offer for European routes

AB is going the same way, VY already had it, 4U as well... tiered fare options seem to be the way to go and will likely become the new standard fro intra-EU flying.

Quoting YYZYYT (Reply 6):My thought is that there is no distinction between "offering a discount" for travellers with no baggage and "charging more" for travellers with. The only real difference over the present US approach is that the fee is not a fee per piece, but rather a flat fee included in the fare.

And it begs the question: are the savings really passed on to passengers or an additional source of revenue to help the bottom line? Call me suspicious, I assume the latter.

You are most probably right, but as I said above the passenger perception is completely different: you are given the feeling that you have larger choice, rather than being nickel and dimed for everything.

Quoting LHRFlyer (Reply 12):I think it's inevitable that charges for checking in bags on short-haul flights will become standard in Europe.

Not necessarily - as I say above, IMO tiered fare structures will become the standard. At least among the legacies and their short-haul subsidiaries.

I dont see why it cant work. Eastern did something similar to this with its Moonlighter flights. Even tho, that was because the belly was used for cargo only. I took one of these flights out of MCO, late at night. It was 90% full. I think its a great idea.

Quoting YYZYYT (Reply 6):And it begs the question: are the savings really passed on to passengers or an additional source of revenue to help the bottom line? Call me suspicious, I assume the latter.

None of the airlines who initiated fees etc. talks about how much they saved passengers it's always about the additonal income, so that should be a clue right there.

I've no problem with a fee for anything outside the basic cost of travel when the ticket price is dirt cheap (FR, G4, NK etc. etc.) but when an airline, not naming names but they have a rather large presence in Atlanta, wants to charge me $400+ for an alleged discount fare (L class) on a 500 mile flight AND wants to charge me for a bag then I feel nickel and dimed. Can only dimly hope that BA doesn't follow that road, but I have my doubts.

The USA legacy airlines are leading the world in the art of transformation of legacies into highly efficient, revenue-maximizing enterprises. European legacy carriers -- the costliest airlines in the world to operate, and with their bread-and-butter longhaul flying under major threat from Mideast rivals -- are most in need of transformation at this point, so expect to continue to see more ideas (and in time, specific practices) exported from their USA peers.